McCANDLESS, Pa. - La Roche Head Coach Kamela Gissendanner called a timeout with 11 seconds left in the regulation down 61-59 to draw up a play. Sophomore guard Dasja Anderson got the call on a driving layup and executed it to perfection, sending the Redhawks into overtime for the first time since December, 2016. Women's basketball was on a mission in overtime, outscoring the Bobcats 12-2 to go on to win the AMCC Game of the Week, 73-63. Today's victory keeps women's basketball at the top of the AMCC standings at 5-0 in conference play.
The Redhawks trailed by six points heading into the final 10 minutes of action before outscoring the Bobcats 28-12 over the final quarter and overtime. When asked what made the difference, Coach Gissendanner said simply, "it was our on ball adjustment." Over the fourth quarter and overtime, La Roche held Pitt Greensburg to 4 of 23 (17%) from the field. LRU on the other hand was 10 of 15 (67%) in the fourth quarter and overtime. Overall, the Redhawks shot a season best 53% from the field, scoring 48 of their 73 points inside the paint.
Junior's Ayanna Mazyck and Shaundrea Butler combined for 40 points (Mazyck: 20, Butler: 20), knocking down 17 of 27 (63%) shots. Mazyck posted her second straight double-double recording a game-high 12 rebounds. Butler dished a game-high 5 assists.
How it Happened
The Redhawks dominated the first eight minutes of today's contest, jumping out to a 17-7 run after a steal by Diamond-Jay (DJ) Whittington converted to a Nia Thomas layup. However, the Bobcats battled in the last two minutes of the quarter going on an 8-2 run to make it a four point game. Mazyck had 8 points in the first quarter alone.
Pitt Greensburg carried that momentum into the second quarter, outscoring La Roche 16-4 in the first six and half minutes of the half to take a six point lead. Butler scored back-to-back driving layups at the end of the second, the Redhawks headed into halftime down 33-31.
With 5 minutes left in the third quarter, the game was tied 39 points a piece. Then, the Bobcats went on a 12-6 run to gain a six point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
As stated earlier in the article, Anderson sent the game into overtime at the buzzer and the Redhawks defense became stout and their offense efficient, holding the Bobcats to only four field goals on 23 attempts (17%) in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Inside the Box Score
The Redhawks dominated underneath the basket, outscoring the Bobcats 48-32 in the paint and out-rebounding 42-37.
Danajah Sanders finished with 10 points on 4 of 12 FG. The Sophomore guard has scored at least 10 points in three of the Redhawks last four contests.
Along with the bucket that sent the game into OT, Anderson added 10 rebounds and 3 assists playing a game-high 44 minutes.
Four Bobcats finished in double-digit scoring figures, but none scored more than 12 points.
NEXT UP: Women's basketball will be on break for the Holiday's until 2020. The Redhawks next game is Saturday, January 4th at the Kerr against D'Youville. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.